Al Pacino, The Eagles Among Kennedy Center Honorees

This year’s Kennedy Center honorees include musicians who span genres including pop, rock, gospel, blues, folk and classical – and an actor known for his extraordinary range.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Thursday that actor Al Pacino, rock band the Eagles, Argentine pianist Martha Argerich, gospel and blues singer Mavis Staples and singer-songwriter James Taylor will be honored for influencing American culture through the arts.

For the Eagles, the recognition will be bittersweet. The band was tapped for the honor last year but postponed its appearance because of founding member Glenn Frey’s failing health. Frey died in January, about a month after the honors gala.

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For Pacino, the star of “The Godfather” trilogy who has long been regarded as one of the great American actors, the honor is arguably overdue. Many of his peers who became leading men in adventurous 1970s Hollywood have already been honored, including Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson and Robert Redford.

Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter, who’s had the job for two years, said she didn’t know why Pacino hadn’t been selected sooner.

WATCH: Access Flashback: Al Pacino Reunites With The Cast Of ‘Scarface’ 

“When I called and invited him, it was an enthusiastic yes,” Rutter told The Associated Press. “You could say all of them are overdue or all of them are exactly at the right moment. We have a great opportunity to recognize people who are still active and yet have accomplished so much.”

The honorees will be celebrated at a gala on Dec. 3, featuring performances and tributes from top entertainers. The show will be broadcast on Dec. 27 on CBS.

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